the Birds of Grand (Jay man. 21 



their accustomed quarters^ waited about, calling vigorously, 

 until they were let in, and could not be induced to leave the 

 regular supply of food a second time. 



Despite its small size, this duck will do its best to take 

 entire charge of a poultry-yard, waking up indignantly to 

 join in any dispute among the fowls. It sleeps as a rule 

 through the day, and at night is more to be relied on as a 

 " watch " than most dogs. 



In its wild state it goes to its feeding grounds at dusk, 

 giving its whistling call as it flies, and seems to wander a 

 good deal during the night, as it by no means infrequently 

 alights, at all sorts of hours and often with a resounding 

 noise, on one of the galvanized iron roofs usual in Cayman, 

 evidently mistaking it for water. 



It seems to be mainly vegetarian, though it is very fond 

 of tadpoles and similar soft animal food. Anything at all 

 hard is invariably dipped into water and well bruised and 

 pounded before being eaten. 



Strix flammea which, with the exception of the Osprey, 

 is the only bird of prey living in or regularly visiting Grand 

 Cayman, is decidedly one of the rarer birds of the island. 

 The writer only knows of the existence of two pairs, one of 

 which (and probably the other as well) breeds in a hollow 

 tree, and he has only heard of one other, though rats {Mus 

 aLexandrinus) and mice [Mus musculus) abound. These were 

 in all probability first imported at least as long ago as the 

 settlement of the island in the early part of the 18th 

 century, and the rats at all events are quite at home in 

 its wildest parts, but by reason of the land-crabs, they 

 seem to have almost lost the art of burrowing and spend 

 most of their lives in the trees — a state of things which 

 presumably does not suit Strix flammea. 



Himantopus mexicanus is said to be a resident, but the 

 writer personally has only seen it in the summer and never 

 succeeded in finding its nest. It probably breeds in suitable 

 places all over the island, and certainly does so in the south- 

 west, where Dendrocycna arborea also seems to have its 

 headquarters and where, except after very prolonged dry 



